August statistics

Disaster. For some inexplicable reason my Scoresaver 2 programme corrupted and refuses to be reinstalled. Andy from SS2 has been an absolute star in trying to help me fix it but to no avail. My last backup was made in January and so I have had to painstakingly re-enter data from the blog. Unfortunately, this means that I have lost the detailed performance stats from each round so I won’t be able to look at the year in its entirety. But it’s not the end of the world.

Practice
So this month. Well practice has been understandably impacted by my job application and preparation but it was totally worth it. A massive plus point is that the limited practice time I have had this month has been enormously constructive. I’ve got to grips with my fat putter handle and the metronome has worked wonders with my tempo. I am probably striking the ball better now than I ever have.

Distance	Time (minutes)	% of practice time
Driver	25	4%
Other Woods	10	1%
200 - 250 yards	15	2%
150 – 200 yards	105	15%
100 – 150 yards	25	4%
Short Approach	315	46%
Bunker Play	20	3%
Putting	165	24%
Total	680	100%

Rounds
That said hitting it well in practice is not the sport and converting that onto the course, especially with a card in my hand, has been a big challenge. Dr Bob audio books are helping my mentality and I am starting to think better on the course. As we head into the autumn and winter and the end of the Honours Board comps I expect I will feel less pressured in medals and the Autumn series. Looking at my stats for the month things appear to be heading in the right direction. I’m starting to get in the habit of scrambling pars and converting birdie opportunities. But at my level those are bonuses: the real challenge is to keep those big numbers off the score side and getting down the number of penalties per round is a great way to achieve that.

Statistic	Performance	SS2 Handicap level
Fairways in Regulation	29% (32%)	22 (20)
Greens in Regulation	19% (14%)	14 (17)
Putts per Round	34.83 (33.91)	17 (15)
Birdie Conversion	13% (10%)	16  (22)
Par Scrambles	10% (7%)	25 (28+)
Sand Saves	0% (11%)	28+ (15)
Driving distance	257 (N/A)	4 (N/A)
Penalties per Round	1.87 (1.30)	19 (14)

The SS2 handicap level is a calculation made indicating your performance on different facets of your game.

Now I have a big dog I have decided to add in my driving distance. This will be the average of the recorded drives on holes where I take a driver (which is normally not many). My hope for next month? Increase FIR and GIR and as a result bring down the average penalties per round.

Never ending drain...

The lure of a well stocked pro shop is irresitible

At what point will I ever be able to reign in my golfing expenditure? It's been two years now and I'm still leaking cash like a virgin in a stripclub (nb this is not in anyway a reference to a misspent youth). At first it was expected. In an equipment heavy sport, with regulations on permitted clothing and a necessity for instruction, I expected the expense, but I had hoped it would have died down by now.

I have completed my set of clubs, in fact I have the luxury of 15 to choose from. I have a stand bag, cart bag and a trolley, resplendent with umbrella holder and golf brolly. I have a wardrobe of clothing, a plethora of caps, a couple of belts and a well loved (read battered) pair of golf spikes.

I've had countless lessons, paid for my annual membership up front and tried an array of golf balls. I have a GPS to navigate my way around the course and a library of books and magazines to aid me when I'm off it. I've invested in training aids to help my putting, tempo, alignment and swing plane. I've got a wide array of tees though supplies of the wooden variety are starting to run low. I have specially designed undergarments, hats, gloves and mitts to stave off the winter chill and gore tex waterproofs to keep me dry in a monsoon. I've changed my grips on nearly all my clubs, but at least the new ones look like they'll last a couple of years.

Yet despite all of this I still need (read want) more. My golfing wardrobe is a bit polyester and I'd love to throw some smart wool and cotton in there for those special golfing occasions. I could do with a new set of spikes to finish the smart outfit off. I've invariably made some errors in club purchases and really should have a 3 hybrid and a wedge set with 50, 54 and 58 degree lofts. At some point I'm likely to want to get fitted for a driver and let's face it you can never have too many golf balls (especially if you lose as many as me).

My latest block of lessons is coming to an end and it's only four months till I need to start thinking about renewing my membership. Winter is drawing in, meaning less available time to spend on the course and practice area and more balls being hit on the driving range. None of this takes into consideration that my littl'un is now addicted to the game and will soon become another drain on my pocket...

The golfing conundrum

I've often wondered why only one half of my golf game turns up at any one time. Yesterday is probably the best I've ever hit the ball off the tee. Though I did face some challenges with club selection and adapting set up to the terrain, on the whole my approach play was pretty good as well. By stark contrast my short game was generally off the boil with occasional glimpses of promise. Then this morning, like a bolt of inspirational lightning it struck me.

When my long game is hot I am loose, almost carefree. My swing is smooth, my tempo is slow and though I'm focused I'm not intense. I pick a spot to aim at and my sole focus is on getting the ball to that position. By contrast my short game is best when I'm aggressive and attack the hole. There is less chance of me quitting on the stroke and I occasionally get a bit of check spin. I don't think about landing zones I just think about the hole or flag and let my brain do the calculation. The two mindsets are sufficiently different that the short game one generates tension in my swing and the long game one leads to careless chips and putts. At times yesterday I managed to flick between the two almost effortlessly and that resulted in my best golf. Definite food for thought.

What helped with the long game yesterday was the brotherly banter and camaraderie on course. It's a real shame we live so far apart that we cannot meet up more often. My one poor drive of the day flirted with the ladies tee at which point one of my brothers told me about this YouTube clip. It made me chuckle so I thought I'd share...

Doglegging...

Battle of the brothers enjoyed it's second instalment today at my brother's home club: Theydon Bois. A lovely course carved out of Epping Forest but a little bit short for my liking. To counteract the rather minuscule length the designer has put in more corners than a Formula 1 circuit. Hole after hole offered up a dogleg that demanded a long iron or hybrid off the tee. It is probably for this reason that tee to green I played really well today, with a FIR of 50%. That said it is clearly evident that the metronome is having a positive affect on my tempo. Bar one woeful tee shot early on I had the type of ball control that I have yearned for a while.

Unfortunately, my short game is displaying the petulance of an attention craving teenager and only makes fleeting appearances. If I can get that in check I may well be cooking on gas. Following a poor start (+15 after seven holes) I built up a head of steam and on the back nine started to play some really good golf, including three consecutive pars. Biggest lesson learnt is my need to make stance and club adjustments to allow for hills and slopes. Suffolk is flatter than a pancake and so playing somewhere with a hint of gradient was a whole new experience.

At the end of the day I beat both my brothers comprehensively, struck the ball well and managed to inadvertently clock my eldest brother on the melon. Worry not as the ball was merely dropping from a tree not a full bloodied drive. It had skewed right off my club  and I failed to realise he was foraging in the undergrowth under the aforementioned tree. More reflection tomorrow but for now I'm a very happy man.

95 (69)
6(4), 6(4), 6(3), 8(5), 4(4), 6(4), 7(4), 3(3), 5(4), 5(4), 6(4), 4(4), 4(4), 4(4), 5(3), 7(4), 5(4), 4(3)

I'm hired!

Absolutely over the moon. Golf has had to take a bit of a back seat over the past few weeks while I've meticulously prepared for the biggest interview(s) of my life. 130 eager individuals entered the process but now the dust has settled I am the last man standing. Words cannot describe how much this new role means to me as it is the fruition of seven years hard work: suffice to say I'm more than a tad chuffed. The role in itself is immensely challenging with the potential to he hugely rewarding. The increase in salary means we can finally look at getting married and adding another cub to the litter. It also means I'll have a little bit more disposable income to spend on the game I love.

Apologies for being cryptic but until formalities are completed I can't let you know the role or organisation, but I promise to reveal all in due course. Very. Happy. Bunny. Roll on the bank holiday weekend it's going to be full of celebration!!!

Tough interview process...

I am so sorry about the lack of updates. Over the past two weeks I have had this job on my mind. You see, every now and then a job comes onto the market that makes you think wow, I would love to do that. I turned my back on the corporate sector shortly during my sabbatical year after completing my degree. I guess I realised that whatever it was I did for a living, it had to make the world a better place. My initial driver was sport and supporting more of hte public to take part but after a few years I realised that giving children and young people the best possible start in life was what made me most excited.

So when this job was advertised I had to apply. A large number of people went for the post, just over 130 I understand. A telephone interview, a presentation and a panel interview later and I am in the final two for braced for a couple of one hour interviews on Thursday. It has potentially been a distraction over the past couple of weeks but by Friday I should know whether I have managed to land this life changing opportunity. Everything that is crossable is crossed and I'll be heading to the golf course on Wednesday night to help keep the nerves at bay and my mind relaxed. Wish me luck...

Apologies

No updates I'm afraid. Big job interview tomorrow and really nervous. One of those life changing job opportunities. Normal service will resume tomorrow.

Short on luck...

Played in my first bogey comp today and didn't fair too well finishing -5. I didn't halve my first hole until the 11th and was frustrated by my short game. So many putts burned the edge or lipped out. A couple of chips caught the hole but rather than drop spun off at 90 degrees. A few beautifully struck approaches hit the green, refused to bite and rolled on over the back. Bad bounces kicked my ball behind trees and bad connections on subsequent shots meant I hit them.

On occasion the thought of I need this putt for a half entered my head and consequently the ball refused to enter the hole. My playing partners commented as another one refused to drop on 17 about how many times that had happened today. There are times when you just have to throw your hands skywards, offer up a prayer of apology and accept that it isn't going to be your day.

But despite all of that today was a massive positive. I struck the ball really well and was much better off the tee than I have been for a long time. I thought my way around the course, and my tempo was vastly improved. My short game might have gone AWOL but I can live with that. 38 putts which should easily have been more like 31 is seven shots in itself. I had a lot of chances to score today and I didn't take them but that's golf. Not the result I was looking for, another 0.1 back but I am sure I am heading in the right direction.

105 (71)
4(3), 8(5), 5(3), 8(4), 6(5), 5(3), 8(5), 6(4), 4(4), 6(4), 4(3), 6(5), 5(4), 7(4), 7(4), 5(4), 6(4), 5(3)

Soaked and buoyant

Trust me. Jumbo putting grips are the way forward!

Windswept and saturated with incessant rain that at times got a tad heavy. As I arrived at the course the pro and his assistant were arriving. The initial comment was that I was mad, I insisted on a rephrase to keen. Given the elements I decided to play the 1st as my warm up hole and play the next nine holes.

Result? Well three bad tee shots 2nd, 4th & 5th holes but other than that I played pretty well. Finished the nine holes with a score of 48 (37) which is -2 nett for me. My mid irons through to my putting was really solid and I think I have turned the corner. The metronome has made a massive difference as I try to keep the tick tock rhythm in my head when I stand over the ball.

However, biggest stand out performer today was the new grip on my putter. Wow. Pace was bang on every time and apart from one hole where I got the break horribly wrong it showed a lot of promise. Solid, unspectacular and comfortably under handicap. Let's hope I can keep the same frame of mind on Saturday when I have a card in my hand.

48 (37)
7(5), 3(3), 7(4), 8(5), 4(3), 6(5), 4(4), 5(4), 4(4)

It's all in my head

Listened to Bob Rotella's Your 15th Club audio book today. Hearing Dr Bob narrate the text confirmed that my head is holding me back. I am getting in my own way with a negative subconscious self image. The rebuilding work began today.

During my practice session I was once again hitting the ball as well as ever. The metronome was ticking away in my back pocket and the fade had returned. Reg (former Club Captain) was over the Heath hitting balls as well. He has seen me from the time I first started playing. One look at my swing and he reaffirmed my beliefs. Nothing wrong with your swing Tiger, it's all in your head.

We talked about the trouble I have on our opening six holes and my course management approach. We discussed an alternative strategy one that I'll brokering intoplsy this weekend. I feel calm and at ease about my golf. I feel confident that when I pick out a target in the distance I have the skills to stroke the ball there. My golfing ability has been developed for some time now. I need to relieve the tension, slow down my swing and trust it implicity. Saturday's bogey competition couldn't have occurred at a more opportune time.

So while I'm out on the course visualising every single shot you might want to imagine a crazy stunt shot for the guys at the European Tour. They are currently running a competition to create the next edition of Every Shot Imaginable on twitter. All you need to do is tweet a suitably wacky idea using the hashtag #MyESI. If your idea is chosen you get to take part alongside the pro golfers. I've posted a couple on here before (Gunpowder Shot and Clay Pigeon Shot) but here for your viewing pleasure is the original gong shot...

Auntie Pat

Bradley holds aloft the Wanamaker Trophy: Action images

Keegan Bradley, an unlikely winner that deserves enormous credit for a monumental rise to prominence. Ranked 329th at the start of is rookie year, his second win of the season at the USPGA catapulted him a smidgen more than an Alastair Cook 'daddy' hundred, up to 29th. A nephew of tough LPGA legend Pat Bradley it seems as though some of Auntie Pat's grit and determination has rubbed off on him.

Five shots down with three to play and it seemed as though the USPGAs was Dufner's to lose. Some may still assert that the fluffy haired golfer from Ohio blew his chance of a maiden Major, but I see it differently. The closing three holes were a tough proposition at the Atlanta Athletic Club and to finish them two under par was a stellar achievement. That Dufner wavered and had three consecutive bogeys from 15-17 just highlights how well Bradley played in the clutch.

Bradley says that he drew inspiration from watching his Auntie Pat (Bradley), an LPGA Hall of Famer, and insists that he does not want this moment to be the zenith of his career. “I’m not going to let this define my career,” Dufner told reporters. “I have a lot more time to play golf and hopefully I’ll have more time to win majors and use what happened today as a positive". You could argue that history is against him. Ouimet and Ben Curtis the only other two players to win a Major at their first attempt never scaled the same heights again. Then again Keegan is a Bradley, and if Auntie Pat is anything to go by, this is not the last we've heard of the steely eyed American rookie.

Itching

Absolutely gagging to get back out on the course, but unfortunately this week will be about practice, practice, practice until Saturday's Bogey competition. After the final few holes on Saturday, a brilliant lesson, a new grip on my ybrid and a chance to use my putter complete with new grip on my putting mat I am chomping at the bit to get out. However, I recognise that I need to practice what I covered in my last lesson and so it will be the practice area for me on Thursday.

Following the huge spate of changes in the bag I have updated the blog Equipment section so click on the tab at the top to have a look. I am starting to take more ownership of my equipment and my game and found this Golf Monthly interview with Luke Donald fascinating.

Who?

Dufner, Steele, Bradley...no offence but who are you?

The final round of the year's final Major is underway and hand on heart I haven't the faintest idea who any of the front runners are. I have said before that perhaps it's time for the USPGA to re-brand and become a global event. I was therefore extremely impressed by an excellent article crafted by John Huggan of Golf Digest. Huggan argues that for the US to hold three Majors is a fallacy in the age when the game has truly globalised: 'such an out-of-date, anachronistic bias has no place in a game where the very best practitioners today hail from all corners of the globe'.

Geoff Ogilvy seemingly concurs that the USPGA as it stands is at the bottom of the list of priorities for professional golfers in regard to Major championships: 'the lesser among equals'. His solution is to return to the matchplay format abandoned in 1958. Whilst that would be interesting, I prefer Huggan's suggestion of a truly global Major that travels around the world the finest courses each continent has to offer.

"Ooooh I could win a Major" Jason Dufner

As for this year's event I had hoped that one of the European contingent would rise to the challenge and help make it seven Majors in a row for the Euro tour. As it stands Karlsson, Donald and Hansen are making a good fist of it but Dufner at nine under is stating the case for fat putting grips. Glad I got mine yesterday!

Step in the right direction

So today I played 18 holes with the swindle guys and then had a lesson. The upshot is that for several holes today and for the second half of my lesson I got my tempo spot on. When I do that my scoring potential is scary. During my lesson, when I was in the zone my bad shots were on the fringes left and right, the good ones hugged the flag all the way in. But that was not the highlight of my day.

On the 13th hole I pulled my drive left and hit my second shot blind. The connection was great but my playing partners never saw it and after a good search I gave up hope and wrote down a blob. An angry tee shot on 14 went very right and my approach was too strong and into the horrible long grass. Seven. So I am on the 15th tee our stroke index 2, and the hole I find the toughest, with a total of seven swindle stableford points. I talk to myself about my tempo and aim to swing smooth and easy. Distance wasn't great, 229 yards but it was just in the first cut. My approach was the best shot I have ever hit. Nine iron to three inches. Birdie.

Hit the tee shot on 16 a little harder out to 240 yards, but stuck in a divot. Aprroach goes through the green but I chipped back and putted for par. Slightly longer drive on the 17th, 258 yards, this time no divot and a pitch to six inches. Birdie. Now the boys started giving me a bit of stick on the 18th so I ended up with a cautious double bogey, but that run of three holes really opened my eyes. If I get my tempo right I am capable of that kind of golf.

I also made some adjustments in my bag today. A new grip on my hybrid so it is consistent with my irons and a new grip on my putter. The putter grip is a Tiger Shark Lite Jumbo and feels so comfortable it is unreal. For the sixteen holes I completed I only took 24 putts today, but a lot of that was due to good (and not so good) chipping and pitching. Average drive distance 257.2 yards. Score off actual handicap 38 points. Getting there.

80 (62)
5(3), 7(5), 5(3), 7(4), 6(5), 4(3), -(5), 4(4), 5(4), 4(4), 4(3), 7(5), -(4), 7(4), 3(4), 4(4), 3(4), 5(3)

Metronomic!

Oh my word. I always though that the metronome and audio Dr Bob were long shots. In practice they are working fantastically well. Went over the heath today with the metronome and it was loud enough that I didn't need my headphones. Went I wasn't concentrating on the beeps it really helped my rhythm and ball striking. Promising I though but then again I'm only hitting wedge. So tonight I took it on the practice hole of my course. Now I did feel like a prize knob beeping away but luckily there was a torrential downpour which meant I was on my own. Things started well enough but then I started to thin a few with my 8 iron. I turned the unit off and tried to keep the beep pattern in my head, rehearsing to it on every practice swing. Lo and behold it was working. Right now for a real test I though. So I put the 8 iron back in the bag and went back from the mat to a grassy bit, extending the length of the hole. Out comes the 5 iron and though the first few are good it soon starts to go awry.

It was then that I remembered a little nugget from the Dr Bob audio tape. It was all about good golfers playing shots with their eyes. He prattles on about that for ages, which is probably why it stuck. The theory is that a good golfer will look at their target, think only of their target and trust their swing. Look at the target, look at the ball, let-it-go. Now I do this when I putt so I thought it's worth a try. Now I'm not going to pretend that I turned into Rory McIlroy but that coupled to the smooth, slower tempo made a huge difference.

The next test is the big one: doing it on the course. Luckily it's a swindle this weekend so no pressure and off the yellows. If I can transfer to the course that little black box may well be the best training aid I've ever owned! Currently, working on swinging at a speed of 65BPM and you know what...the slower swing speed has turned my fade into a soft draw and cost me no distance. A glimmer of hope has returned.

Absence

I apologise for not posting the past couple of days. I have spent an inordinate amount of time on the Golf Monthly forum debating the recent riots and haven't played any golf either. My apologies, but I am back now and ready to update you with the latest instalment of my exploits at trying to get better at this great game.

My birthday present from my brother has landed, a digital metronome with an ear phone jack. The idea is to find a tempo that works best for my swing and then use the metronome to reinforce that tempo when I practice. In time I hope that the tempo will be trained well enough to become my natural rhythm. It may seem like a long shot, but after last week's medal I am sure that it is erractic timing caused by tension on the course that is holding me back.

I'll be out for my usual practice session at lunch and this evening and so will be able to test whether or not the metronome helps. Full report on its first outings tomorrow. If you fancy giving it a try yourself click on the link below to buy your very own.

Qwik Time Metronome - QT7

Desperate times...

Possibly the final act of a desperate man. Having taken time to reflect on what went wrong on Saturday I have decided I need to work on my tempo. To achieve this on the course I think I need to get it right in practice. So, when my brother asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I said "a metronome". This may seem like a crazy idea but when people think I'm a mid teen handicap based on my swing and the numbers tell a different story, I need to do something.

This is my logic. I play my best golf when I swing at 80%. Perfect practice makes perfect. So I need to make sure I have the same tempo for EVERY shot I hit in practice. This should help to reproduce that tempo when I play. A metronome will help me to consistently practice to the same tempo.

Step two is working on my on course thinking and I am very grateful to Simon for lending me audio Bob Rotella. This is being uploaded on my iPhone this evening in the hope that it will help embed the necessary mindset to help me score better. As I begin my third year of playing golf a 0.5 decrease does not mirror the amount of energy, practice and most importantly technical improvement I have made. I'm not doing myself justice in competitions and I need to rectify that as soon as possible. Either that or change the title of the blog to 'The Farcical Ramblings of an Inept Golfer".

Pink golf...

Thoroughly fantastic birthday today, with the exception of West Ham's disappointing performance against Cardiff, we're not talking about that. I havebBeen mulling over something that Simon was talking about yesterday. Back in the winter Simon was off 24 but hard work and plenty of practice has seen his handicap drop to 18 and yesterday he carded a nett 63 in the medal. His course management approach hinges on a simple concept: pink golf when necessary.

For the feminists among you, you may wish to look away now. Essentially, pink golf is taking an easy no risk approach to getting to the green. It is beyond chipping sideways and taking your medicine, it is taking two wedge shots from 190 yards, taking the easy simple route as often as possible. Obviously, Simon's game is underpinned by ridiculously straight hitting and when he finally gets custom fit and they sort out his ballooning ball flight he will be a hell of a player.

He has accomplished what I am dreaming of doing and a steadfast trust in the Rotella principles and his pink golf theory is certainly helping his progress. There will come a time when he will need to play more aggressively but for now he is a shining example of what can be achieved.

Speed demons...

Well to say today did not go according to plan would be an understatement. Paired with Simon and Steve, who were great company, but unfortunately not as forthright as my usual playing partners who would have told me early in the round that I was thrashing at it. I need some mechanism to catch myself when I speed up the backswing as it wrecks my tempo and leads to the unmitigated disaster that today's round was. I NR'd two holes so will be guaranteed a 0.1 back taking me back to the dreaded 28. It's days like this when I wonder why I bother, but then from nowhere I'll hit some great shots and get all excited again.

I won't bore you with a blow by blow account of every single shot, but I will talk you through the 4th. Skewed my tee shot into the rough right. Hacked out. Sclaffed (that means fat and not far) the next. Topped the one after. Hit a tree. Then pulled it into the gorse. Didn't bother playing another ball. But the good news was that the driver was solid if unspectacular and the short game with the Bridgestones was very good, hurt at times by long, thick, wet rough. Simon commented that apart from a couple of shots I had been quite unlucky with nasty bounces or being a couple of foot too far left or right.

So I'll forget the bad stuff, take the good stuff and look forward to playing next week off the yellows. When I get tense I get quick and the speed demons hurt my game massively. It's all part of the learning curve and Simon quite kindly lent me an audio copy of Bob Rotella's "Golf is a Game of Confidence". Not the ideal way to lead into my birthday, but I did have a few things on my mind.

92 (62)

4(3), 9(5), 5(3), -(4), 10(5), 3(3), 8(5), 5(4), 6(4), 5(4), 3(3), -(5), 7(4), 5(4), 5(4), 7(4), 6(4), 4(3)
nett score for handicap 80 

Anticipation...

The bag is packed, ready and waiting. New balls have been marked and dropped into the ball bit. The lob wedge has been removed and replaced with the boom stick. Excited? Yes. Nervous? A little.

The good thing is I now have a routine for preparing for a round, which has helped the last couple of times I have played, so I know exactly what I need to do when I get to the club. So the bag may have changed but that will remain consistent.

Then it all really comes down to the four firsts as they generally set the tempo for my round. Numero uno my opening tee shot, need a good solid connection. If I miss left or right I am generally ok and if it is pin high it puts me in a good frame of mind. Next, my first chip. Often this is from the left side of the first hole and can be anything from a bump n run to a floaty one. So long as it lands (and stays) on the short stuff it's all gravy. The third is the first putt, usually from twenty foot and it's all about pace, get that right and I am usually buzzing. Quite often these three firsts contribute to a bogey 4 start and I'm usually chuffed with that.

The final first is actually always my second shot on the 2nd hole. It's not an approach but is usually an iron shot and not from the tee and a good solid connection will often play a part in a good score on hole two, a solid start and positive anticipation of what the rest of the round has in store. Big hopes for tomorrow, but number one objective: enjoy it. It is my birthday weekend after all!

Boom!!!!!

Yo back up now and give a brother room
The fuse is lit and I'm about to go boom
Mercy mercy mercy me
My life is a cage but on the course I'm free
Hyped up syched up ready for wil'in'
Standing on the tee looking at the green like an island
I see the spot I wanna hit like it's the range
It's 300 yards away but that ain't that strange
Work the body work work the body
Slow down man you're 'bout to hurt somebody
Oh and yo let's get just one thing clear
There's only one reason why I came here
Ya really done want me to tig-a-tig-a-tig-a tell ya wassup (go)
Ya really done want me to tig-a-tig-a-tig-a tell ya wassup (go)
Ya really done want me to tig-a-tig-a-tig-a tell ya wassup (go)
I came here tonight to hear the crowd go

Boom! shake-shake-shake the room
Boom! shake-shake-shake the room
Boom! shake-shake-shake the room
Tic-tic-tic-tic BOOM!

The Fresh Prince likes a bit of golf, so do I. Took my newly acquired driver down the range last night and all I can say is wow. Looks horrendous, sounds god awful, goes like a train! Struggled a little bit with dispersion but that's to be expected. Pulled a few where I got too close to the ball and sliced a few when I stood too far away. But when I got my distance right it went long and straight. This could well be the start of something beautiful...

The power of the blog

The club has arrived, obviously someone who follows the blog had a word! Happy days!

I hate Parcelforce!

As per usual Pat delivered just one package that day

My young son does like watching Postman Pat and watching the big nosed, feline loving postie's adventures reminds me periodically of the worst bits of our postal service. Don't get me wrong I think postie's are generally overworked and underpaid and that a huge burden on our postal service is how private firms can utilise it for the less profitable elements of their business. That said as Postman Pat spends yet another episode in Greendale performing some form of community service, and seemingly delivering no letters or parcels, it makes me wonder if 'art' has an uncanny knack of mirroring reality.

Mrs Goggins: Greendale hussy?

My driver was posted through Parcelforce 48hr delivery on Friday. Now, while I'll allow the weekend because I'm a generous kind of chap, I'd expect it to have arrived by close of play Tuesday. It's now midday Wednesday and there is still no sign of it. The tracking number tells me it is in Ipswich,but probably jammed at the back of a van that was sent out to Lowestoft in the early hours of the morning. Some of you with young children may familiar with the Postman Pat spin off 'Special Delivery'. In this show he somehow manages to deliver a single package A DAY, usually after a run of terrible bad luck you may join me in prayer that once the sheep have been cleared from the road, Jess rescued from the well and Mrs Goggins' (the Kim Catrall of Greendale) has her 'needs' satisfied that the rosy cheeked Pat will arrive just before I leave the house.

In the meantime I am annoyingly unable to go over to the heath and practice on my lunch break, as that would be the time they would most likely try to deliver. To make matters worse tonight is also my midweek golf night and I'd love to take my new driver down the driving range to see whether it could go into the bag for Saturday's medal, but alas I fear it will not arrive in time. Looks like I'll be visiting the golf club ce soir to hit some irons and work on my short game. Sad times!

Changing of the guard...

Well today should be the day that my driver arrives and if it goes in the bag another club needs to make way. I am determined to get the G15 hybrid to work so that's staying. On medal day I need my 3 iron for tee shots on the 1st, sometimes the 6th and the 14th. So it looks as though the lob wedge needs to go, at least for maintenance. The lob doesn't have the same shaft as my other wedges, nor the same grip and it isn't 4 degrees upright. This means I can use it fine around the green but not on approaches where it could add value. I'm going to look into getting it adjusted but recently it has caused more harm than good so for now it is out.

I've also worked my way through my Z-Star stocks with some lost and others resident in the practice bag. Rather than trying the new 4-piece Z-Star XV, I've decided to run with the Bridgestone B330s. I have fond memories of using one that was kindly given to me and hope it will prove to be a winner, at least while the greens remain firm. I guess it's a bit of a gamble with the medal on Saturday but faint heart never won fair maiden!

So in order to boost my accuracy and control I've opted for a new ball and some adjustments to my lob wedge. Once it is fixed it will be interesting to see what club bites the bullet then. In keeping with the theme of wedge accuracy I'll leave you today with a completely random, yet totally brilliant European Tour video. What a sad day that we need to rely on a Frenchman to protect our coastline from pirates. Avast me hearties!!!

Golfing superstar

I'll put my hands up and admit it: I've not really followed the women's game. That shameful statistic is forgiveable to a point in terms of lack of coverage, but with the Women's Open being shown on the Beeb I confess to not absorbing as much of it as perhaps I should have.

Thankfully, the news this morning has kicked me out of my prehistoric, chauvanistic shell to applaud the achievements of a golfing superstar. Having heaped praise and lavished superlatives on young Rory McIlroy it would be remiss of me not to bestow greater acknowledgement on the achievements of Yani Tseng.

Twenty two years old and five time Major winner. FIVE times! That is quite phenomenal. There has been talk of young McIlroy supplanting Tiger Woods as the dominant force in the men's game, it looks as though Tseng is taking over the reigns once held so tenaciously by Lorena Ochoa. I have to say that I'll be paying closer attention to the ladies game and Tseng's progress and wondering whether her domination will coax Ochoa out of her early retirement. In the meantime, I doff my cap to you Yani for a quite superb performance!